Avery  Architectural  and  Fine  Arts  Library 
Gift  of  Seymour  B.  Durst  Old  York  Library 


I  — 4   1      I  ^» 


New  York's  Town  Meeting  Hall 


PEN  discussions  are  conducive  to  mutual  good  will  and  fair 
play.  They  result  in  fewer  misunderstandings  of  public  opinion 
because  it  has  always  been  true  that  "discussion  rationalizes 
everything  it  touches." 

Since  the  days  when  Socrates  held  forth  to  the  inquiring  youth  of  Athens, 
men  have  always  appealed  to  and  relied  upon  public  opinion  for  the  good 
of  the  commonwealth.  The  Pilgrim  Fathers  believed  in  the  inherent  princi- 
ple of  democracy  founded  on  democratic  discussion.  Down  through  the 
early  beginnings  of  our  nation,  each  community  had  its  meeting  house — its 
town  hall — where  citizens  met  to  talk  things  over. 

For  years  New  York  has  needed  such  a  "town  meeting"  hall.  At  last, 
in  answer  to  the  demand,  a  civic  enterprise  is  near  completion  which  will 
establish  an  open  forum  in  the  heart  of  the  city,  where  law-abiding  citizens 
may  get  together  and  really  have  a  chance  to  discuss  their  common  interests. 


OPEN  DISCUSSION— A  CURE  FOR  BOLSHEVISM 


Silence  and  brooding  give  birth  to  unrest  and  menace  the  welfare  of  the 
community.  Prejudice,  class  hatred,  strikes  and  pernicious  legislation  flour- 
ish when  men  are  given  no  chance  to  tell  the  ''other  fellow"  about  their 
grievances  and  in  turn  listen  to  the  other  man's  point  of  view.  The  hazards 
of  peace  and  war  are  reduced  when  people  face  issues  squarely  on  an  open 
public  platform.  Protests  against  existing  laws,  the  fitness  of  prospective 
office-holders,  the  desirability  of  pending  legislation, —  all  these  things 
should  be  talked  over  until  both  sides  of  the  questions  are  thoroughly 
understood. 

This  is  the  part  New  York's  new  Civic  Auditorium  will  endeavor  to 
take  in  the  life  of  the  body  politic. 

"He  who  moulds  public  sentiment  goes  deeper  than  he  who  enacts 
statutes  or  pronounces  decisions." 

New  York  is  just  about  ready  to  put  Abraham  Lincoln's  famous  remark 
to  the  test.    With  the  opening  of  the  Civic  Auditorium,  this  city  will 

m 


take  its  proper  place  in  a  national  movement  for  better  "government  by 
discussion." 

The  building  now  being  erected  at  113-123  West  43rd  Street  aims  to 
provide  the  best  equipped  town  meeting  hall  in  any  community.  It  is  within 
a  half-mile  of  the  two  great  railway  terminals,  many  of  the  finest  hotels  and 
the  retail  shopping  district.  Within  the  radius  of  a  mile  are  the  Waldorf- 
Astoria  and  the  McAlpin  hotels  to  the  south,  the  Plaza  and  Central  Park  to 
the  north,  Ninth  Avenue  to  the  west  and  Third  Avenue  to  the  east.  Times 
Square,  the  center  of  the  city's  entire  transportation  system,  is  within  a  stone's 
throw  of  the  Civic  Auditorium. 

New  York  has  wanted,  and  now  will  have  for  its  discussions  of  contro- 
versial questions,  a  hall  designed  primarily  for  public  speaking  and  not  for 
entertainments  and  concerts.  Perfect  acoustics  will  be  one  of  the  features  of 
this  new  forum.  The  late  Professor  Sabine  of  Harvard,  foremost  expert 
in  America  on  acoustics,  was  the  authority  whose  counsels  were  sought  and 
followed  on  this  most  important  point.  The  result  will  be,  it  is  believed,  one 
of  the  finest  speaking  auditoriums  in  the  country. 

131 


A  MEMORIAL  TO  CIVIC  SERVICE 

It  is  fitting  that  the  foyer  of  the  Auditorium  should  be  a  memorial  to 
public-spirited  citizens  not  now  living  who  were  the  leaders  of  their  day  in 
public  usefulness.  This  memorial  foyer  will  stand  in  the  center  of  the  city's 
life  as  New  York's  tribute  to  these  far-sighted  men  and  women  to  whom  it 
owes  so  much.  Coming  generations  will  thus  be  reminded  of  those  who 
have  gone  before,  and  inspired,  it  is  hoped,  to  follow  the  way  illuminated  by 
these  torch-bearers  of  civilization. 

C43 


Every  feature  which  will  make  for  comfort  has  received  careful  consid- 
eration. Disturbing  noises  have  been  eliminated  by  the  use  of  swinging  doors 
at  the  beginning  of  each  aisle.  When  a  meeting  opens,  these  doors  will  be 
closed,  shutting  out  confusion  from  late-comers  finding  their  proper  seats. 

A  welcome  feature  of  the  Auditorium  will  be  the  fact  that  it  will  be 
entered  from  the  street  without  ascending  even  one  step. 


us: 


THE  DESIGN  OF  THE  AUDITORIUM 

The  interior  of  the  hall  is  semi- classic  in  design.  The  direct  emphasis  of 
space  is  added  to  quiet  dignity  of  treatment,  and  the  aim  is  always  at  character. 
One  is  conscious  of  nothing  but  symmetry  in  the  simple  lines  of  the  proscenium 
which  overarches  the  wide  platform. 

Soft  colors  have  been  chosen  to  harmonize  with  the  fine  design.  These 
colors  will  tend  to  create  an  atmosphere  of  quiet  and  repose  and  will  help  the 
attention  of  the  audience.  - 


[6] 


No  pillars  or  supports  will  interfere  with  the  audience's  view  of  the 
speaker.  Every  seat  on  the  floor  and  in  the  balcony  will  have  an  unobstructed 
view  of  the  platform. 

Wide  and  convenient  aisles,  roomy,  comfortable  seats  and  an  indirect 
lighting  system  are  all  a  part  of  the  appointments. 

The  seating  capacity  will  be  1700,  with  room,  on  occasion,  for  200 
"standees." 


The  Auditorium  will  have  hut 
one  balcony,  with  a  row  of  loges 
in  front.  There  will  be  no  boxes. 


A  REAL  TOWN  MEETING  HALL 


A  public  service  which  New  York's  Town  Hall  will  render  to  the  city  will 
be  in  providing  a  meeting-place  for  organizations,  institutions  and  groups  of 
persons,  who  may  obtain  the  use  of  the  hall  rent  free  if  no  admission  fee  is 
charged.  The  Auditorium  will  be  available  for  any  public  purpose  if  satis- 
factory  references  are  given  when  necessary,  always  with  the  proviso  that  the 
gatherings  be  of  an  orderly,  law-abiding  character. 

For  such  meetings  the  only  charge  will  be  the  actual  cost  of  attendants 
and  ushers,  if  any  are  required.  Meetings  of  a  public  character  for  which 
admission  is  charged,  or  which  are  limited  to  members  of  any  particular  organi- 
zation, will  be  expected  to  pay  a  nominal  rental  of  fifty  dollars  plus  the  actual 
cost  of  attendants. 

Any  question  regarding  the  use  of  the  Auditorium  will  be  submitted  to  a 
representative  and  carefully  chosen  non-partisan  committee,  which  will  decide 
each  case  on  its  merits.  This  municipal  meeting  hall,  free  from  political  con- 
trol, will  be  held  in  trust  for  the  people  by  The  League  for  Political  Education, 
an  institution  identified  for  over  twenty-five  years  with  the  higher  life  of  this 
city,  and  the  originator  of  this  undertaking. 

[8] 


The  Auditorium  will  occupy  the  space  of  the  first  four  floors  of  the  build- 
ing.  The  floor  above  it,  corresponding  to  the  fifth  floor,  will  be  used  for  the 
offices  of  The  League  for  Political  Education  and  its  allied  organizations,  The 
Civic  Forum  and  The  Economic  Club. 

During  the  active  season  the  lectures  of  the  League  will  be  given  in  the 
Auditorium  every  week-day  morning.  Meetings  of  The  Economic  Club  and 
The  Civic  Forum  will  be  held  occasionally  in  the  afternoon  and  evening,  but 
the  Auditorium  will  be  open  for  public  uses  at  least  five  afternoons  and  five 
evenings  a  week  on  the  average,  it  is  expected. 

The  object  of  these  three  organizations,  although  differently  stated  in 
each  case,  is  really  identical  —  to  promote  by  educational  methods  a  finer 
citizenship  and  a  better  social  order. 

POLITICAL  SCIENCE  LIBRARY  A  FEATURE 

On  the  fifth  floor  a  reading-room  will  be  maintained  with  special  emphasis 
on  political  science.  Ultimately  a  political  science  reference  library  of  about 
10,000  volumes  will  be  installed.  Here  expert  advice  as  to  the  books  avail- 
able in  other  libraries  of  the  city  will  be  obtainable.    This  service  will  not 

C93 


duplicate  that  of  any  public  or  university  library.  It  will  rather  correlate 
and  interpret  these  collections. 

As  a  part  of  the  civic  service  offered  New  York  by  this  new  Town  Hall, 
there  will  be  on  this  floor  a  Bureau  of  Information  and  Friendly  Service. 
Facts  concerning  the  various  kinds  of  educational,  religious,  charitable  and 
social  organizations  may  be  gathered  from  this  Bureau.  The  tendency  of  a 
great  city  to  scatter  as  it  increases  in  size  necessitates  such  a  central  source 
of  information. 

A  UNIQUE  CLUB  FOR  MEN  AND  WOMEN 

A  club  for  men  and  women  established  to  promote  "a  finer  public  spirit  and 
a  better  social  order"  will  be  an  interesting  part  of  this  community  institution. 
New  York's  Town  Hall  will  thus  be  the  nucleus  of  a  new  civic  center  created 
in  the  heart  of  the  city. 

The  sixth  floor  and  the  roof  of  the  building  will  be  occupied  by  this  Club, 
which  will  be  quite  different  in  several  respects  from  any  now  existing  in  the 


city.  The  membership  will  be  composed  of  men  and  women  on  equal  terms 
and  in  substantially  equal  numbers.  Full  club  service  will  be  rendered  at 
annual  dues  so  moderate  as  to  be  unparalleled  thus  far  in  New  York.  Ad- 
mission to  the  Club  will  be  by  reference  to  a  membership  committee.  There 
will  be  large  and  small  dining-rooms,  with  assembly  rooms  for  committee 
meetings  and  smaller  gatherings  than  would  use  the  Auditorium.  Space  will 
be  provided  for  art  exhibitions  and  those  of  a  sociological  character. 

The  equipment  will  be  that  of  a  well  appointed  club  with  spacious  rest- 
rooms  and  lounge.  A  representative  board  of  governors  will  manage  the 
Club's  affairs.  Men  and  women  will  be  able  to  meet  together  at  luncheon 
or  dinner  for  conferences  on  subjects  of  common  interest.  This  Club,  of 
which  a  man  and  his  wife  may  both  be  members  on  the  same  basis,  will  en- 
deavor to  maintain  an  atmosphere  of  natural  friendliness  amid  the  artificiali- 
ties and  conventions  of  modern  city  life. 

When  the  Civic  Auditorium  opens  its  doors  next  summer,  the  goal  of  a 
quarter  of  a  century  of  hope  and  effort  will  be  reached. 

17  West  Forty-fourth  Street, 

New  York,  January  2,  1920.  [11] 


FOUNDED  BY  ELEANOR  BUTLER  SANDERS  IN  THE  YEAR  1894 

THE  LEAGUE  FOR  POLITICAL  EDUCATION 

ROBERT  ERSKINE  ELY,  Director 
MARY  B.  CLEVELAND,  Executive  Secretary 
CHRISTINE  L.  MUNGER,  Secretary  to  the  Director  EVELYN  L.  SHULTERS,  Membership  Secretary 


Daily  morning  lectures,  singly  and  in  courses,  from  November  to  April. 
Five  thousand  members,  mainly  women,  pay  annual  dues  of  from  $3 
(public  school  teachers)  to  $25.  Entirely  supported  by  membership  dues. 


Board  of  Trustees 
HENRY  W.  TAFT,  Chairman 
LAURA  V.  DAY,  Secretary  ROBERT  G.  MEAD,  Treasurer 

MARY  B.  CLEVELAND,  Assistant  Secretary  and  Assistant  Treasurer 
MRS.  ROBERT  ABBE  ROBERT  ERSKINE  ELY  JOHN  MARTIN 

MRS.  HENRY  A.  ALEXANDER  MRS.  BEN  ALI  HAGGIN  HENRY  M.  SANDERS 

JOHN  BATES  CLARK  A.  BARTON  HEPBURN  JACOB  H.  SCHIFF 

CLARA  B.  SPENCE  MRS.  SCHUYLER  N.  WARREN 


CHARLES  S.  LECKY 
CHARLES  V.  J.  BELLARD 


Office  Staff 

HORTENSE  A.  L.  NORMANDEAU 
IRENE  C.  HEUNECKE 


ORGANIZED  IN  THE  YEAR  1907 


THE  ECONOMIC  CLUB  OF  NEW  YORK 

HENRY  MORGENTHAU,  President 
GEORGE  W.  WICKERSHAM,  First  Vice-President  WILLIAM  CHURCH  OSBORN,  Second  Vice-President 

ROBERT  ERSKINE  ELY,  Secretary  JOSEPH  FRENCH  JOHNSON,  Treasurer 


GEORGE  GORDON  BATTLE 
THEODORE  E.  BURTON 
WILLIAM  HAMLIN  CHILDS 
CHARLES  A.  COFFIN 
JULIUS  HENRY  COHEN 


Executive  Committee 
The  Officers  and 
HERBERT  S.  HOUSTON 
CLARENCE  H.  KELSEY 
ROBERT  S.  LOVETT 
SAMUEL  McROBERTS 
GERRISH  H.  MILLIKEN 


E.  H.  OUTERBRIDGE 
WILLIAM  H.  PORTER 
ROBERT  J.  F.  SCHWARZENBACH 
GUY  E.  TRIPP 
FRANK  A.  VANDERLIP 


Four  regular  dinner-meetings  a  year,  and  others  occasionally,  for  the  non-partisan  discussion 
of  public  questions  from  different  points  of  view.  Membership,  twelve  hundred  men,  the 
limit  fixed  by  the  Club's  Constitution.  Entirely  supported  by  the  annual  dues  of  members. 


Membership  Committee 

THOMAS  W.  LAMONT  HENRY  W.  TAFT  ALTON  B.  PARKER 

MARY  B.  CLEVELAND,  Executive  Secretary 
CHARLES  S.  LECKY,  Membership  Secretary 


A.  BARTON  HEPBURN 
FRANCIS  LYNDE  STETSON 


Former  Presidents 
JOHN  G.  MILBURN 
JAMES  SPEYER 


WILLIAM  R.  WILLCOX 
FRANK  A.  VANDERLIP 


ORGANIZED  IN  THE. YEAR  1907 


THE   CIVIC  FORUM 

Board  of  Trustees 

HENRY  CLEWS,  Chairman            TROWBRIDGE  HALL,  Treasurer 

CHARLES  L.  BERNHEIMER                 DANIEL  GUGGENHEIM  ALTON  B.  PARKER 

IRVING  T.  BUSH                                AUGUST  HECKSCHER  HENRY  S.  PRITCHETT 

ROBERT  J.  CALDWELL                       HERBERT  S.  HOUSTON  JAMES  B.  REYNOLDS 

THOMAS  L.  CHADBOURNE                 GEORGE  F.  KUNZ  R.  A.  C.  SMITH 

ROBERT  ERSKINE  ELY                       SAM  A.  LEWISOHN  OSCAR  S.  STRAUS 

HUGH  FRANEY                                  HENRY  MORGENTHAU  GEORGE  W.  WICKERSHAM 

MORGAN  J.  O'BRIEN  TALCOTT  WILLIAMS 


Public  meetings  and  dinners  for  men  and  women  to  promote  higher  citizenship,  appreciation 
of  public  usefulness,  and  friendly  international  relationships.  Membership  and  constituency 
over  two  thousand.  Supported  by  membership  dues,  receipts  from  admissions  to  the  meetings, 
and  subscriptions.    Guaranteed  annually  against  a  deficit  by  a  committee  of  underwriters. 


ROBERT  ERSKINE  ELY,  Director 
MARY  B.  CLEVELAND,  Executive  Secretary 
CHARLES  S.  LECKY,  Membership  Secretary 

Recipients  of  the  Medal  of  Honor  for  Distinguished  Public  Service 
GEORGE  W.  GOETHALS,  1914  THOMAS  A.  EDISON,  1915  ALEXANDER  GRAHAM  BELL,  1917 


INCORPORATED  IN  THE  YEAR  1914 


THE  SOCIETIES  REALTY  COMPANY 

Officers 

FRANK  A.  VANDERLIP,  President 
ROBERT  ERSKINE  ELY,  First  Vice-President  MRS.  A.  A.  ANDERSON,  Second  Vice-President 

E.  H.  OUTERBRIDGE,  Secretary 
WILLIAM  R.  WILLCOX,  Treasurer 
MARY  B.  CLEVELAND,  Assistant  Secretary  and  Assistant  Treasurer 

Executive  Committee 
HENRY  W.  TAFT,  Chairman  and  Counsel 
TROWBRIDGE  HALL  MRS.  HENRY  A.  ALEXANDER 

ROBERT  E.  SIMON  CHARLOTTE  S.  BAKER 

WALTER  STABLER  MRS.  FREDERICK  LEE  ACKERMAN 


Organized  to  purchase  the  land  and  erect  the  building  for  the  Civic  Auditorium. 
Acts  as  a  holding  and  operating  company  for  The  League  for  Political  Education. 


MRS.  WILLIAM  H.  BLISS 
MRS.  ELGIN  R.  L.  GOULD 
OTTO  H.  KAHN 
SAMUEL  McCUNE  LINDSAY 
MRS.  WILLIAM  M.  MARTIN 


Directors 
The  above-named  Officers  and 
WILLIAM  R.  MEAD 
CHARLES  W.  MIX 
CHRISTINE  L.  MUNGER 
MRS.  CHARLES  J.  OPPENHEIM 


MRS.  THEODORE  PETERS 
HENRY  M.  SANDERS 
MRS.  RALPH  L.  SHAINWALD 
EVELYN  L.  SHULTERS 
MRS.  P.  A.  VALENTINE 


Building  Committee 

WALTER  STABLER,  Chairman  ROBERT  E.  SIMON,  Vice-Chairman 

TROWBRIDGE  HALL  ROBERT  ERSKINE  ELY  MARY  B.  CLEVELAND 


Architects:  McKIM,  MEAD  &  WHITE 
Construction  in  charge  of  RUSSELL  B.  SMITH  ENGINEERS 


THEY  THAT  BE  WISE  SHALL  SHINE  AS  THE  BRIGHTNESS  OF  THE 
FIRMAMENT;  AND  THEY  THAT  TURN  MANY  TO  RIGHTEOUSNESS 
AS  THE  STARS  FOR  EVER  AND  EVER 

Inscription  in  Memorial  Hall,  Harvard  University 


Designed  and  Printed  by 
THE DEV1NNE  PRESS 
New  York 
Drawings  by  John  Vincent 


-4  1 


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SECTION  AT  CENTER  LINE 


